PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dan Benson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dan Benson could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Nick Hardy's chin.

Benson
vs
Hardy

180 cm
23
172 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
169 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dan Benson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nick Hardy!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Dean Styles and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benson takes one to the chin there.
A jab from Hardy finds it's way through Benson's defenses.
Benson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Benson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Hardy quickly recovers to half guard.
Hardy pushes Benson off looking to stand but Benson dives back in and keeps control.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Benson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Hardy is trying to stand back up but Benson is controlling him
Still in half guard, Benson seems content to control.
Hardy is trying to escape back to his feet but Benson uses the scramble to pass into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benson controls the position from side control.
Hardy tries to escape but Benson is in control.
Benson controlling the position.
Hardy is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy is letting Benson control him for a moment.
Benson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Benson prevents Hardy from escaping the position.
Hardy looks gassed!
Benson content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Dan Benson.
Hardy throws a big shot that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Benson there as he acknowledges the shot.
Hardy throws a hook but Benson blocks it.
Hardy is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Benson.

Benson dives in and scores a takedown into Hardy's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benson pushing down on Hardy's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Benson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Dan Benson just wasn't active enough.
A big left from Hardy misses.
Hardy throws a looping overhand right but Benson ducks down to avoid it.
Hardy cracks Benson with an open hand slap.
Benson drops his hands momentarily and Hardy takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Benson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Benson slows the pace down in half guard.
Hardy is trying to stand up here but Benson is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Benson has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benson content just to control the position here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hardy is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Benson dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Benson shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Hardy tests Benson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Hardy misses the target.

Benson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hardy's half guard.
Still in half guard, Benson seems content to control.
Benson prevents Hardy from standing back up.
Dan Benson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Benson controlling the pace.
Hardy wants to get back to his feet.
Benson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Dan Benson.
Benson ducks under a wild hook from Hardy.
Hardy throws a hook but Benson avoids it easily.

Benson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hardy was covering up waiting for the punch and Benson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Benson prevents Hardy from getting back to his feet.
Hardy is breathing heavily.
Benson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy wants to stand and escape but Benson is having none of it.
Benson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
A lull in the action here.
Hardy pushes Benson away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Benson gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benson creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Hardy is trying to escape the position but Benson is controlling the position.
Hardy pushes Benson away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Benson gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Benson taking a breather here.
Hardy is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
A lull in the action here.
Hardy is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Benson has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benson is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Hardy will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Hardy is pushing Benson's head away, looking to escape. Benson manages to hold on to the position though.

We're going to have a standup here because Dan Benson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Hardy misses with an uppercut

so Benson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Benson passes Hardy's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Benson content to control rather than advance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Benson dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hardy jabs Benson right on the nose. Benson blinks but takes it well.
A telegraphed right hand from Hardy misses the target.

Benson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Hardy!
Hardy is trying to stand.
Benson controlling from the full mount.
Hardy's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Benson controlling his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hardy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Dan Benson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
The fighters circling - Hardy throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hardy is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Benson.
Benson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hardy.

Benson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Benson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
You get the feeling that Hardy really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hardy is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Benson looking to control and managing it successfully.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Dan Benson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Hardy throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Benson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nick Hardy is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy misses with a straight left.
Hardy throws a hook but Benson avoids it easily.
A big right from Hardy misses.
Hardy missing with a left hand there. Benson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hardy misses with an uppercut

and Benson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hardy's guard.
Benson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Benson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Hardy for as long as he can get away with.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dan Benson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Hardy misses with an uppercut. Benson saw that one coming.
Benson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hardy.
Nick Hardy seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Benson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Benson is landing with some decent strikes but Hardy is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Benson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hardy is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Benson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Benson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Benson!